Labour Set For Mass Action

2012-01-08
THE GUARDIAN Newspaper

ORGANISED Labour in the country yesterday, rolled out detailed action plan for the declared indefinite, nationwide mass rally and protest beginning tomorrow. The strategy has led to the sub-division of sub-diving of Lagos State into five zones for effective coordination, and using the late Gani Fawehimi Park in Ojota as the central terminal point for all protesters on major streets in Lagos.

Labour has also declared that other states of the federation have been sub-divided into zones to be coordinated by the respective state chairmen of NLC and TUC along side with the civil society groups for effective mass rally from Monday.

Speaking to newsmen on the detailed action plan by organised labour in conjunction with the civil society organisations, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, the General Secretary of Joint Action Front (JAF), explained that all is now set for the nationwide mass rally to take off.

He said “The organised Labour in conjunction with the civil society coalition has mapped out strategic action plans for the mass protest to take-off from Monday January 9, 2012.

“In line with the action plan, all the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory have been sub-divided into zones so as to accommodate market women, students, churches, mosques and even the disabled persons in the grassroots, to be able to participate in the indefinite strike”

Lagos has been sub-divided into five zones, namely NLC secretariat, Yaba, TUC Secretariat, Idi-Iroko, office of the Agric and Allied Workers Union in Iyana-Paja, the Textile Union Secretariat in Acme road near Ogba, and the Lagos State University Campus in Oja,with the Gani Fawehini Park in Ojota as the Central point of meeting after each day mass protest”

According to Aremu, the organised labour has directed “all state Chairmen of both the NLC and TUC to set up monitoring units in all the sub-divided zones to ensure that all offices, work places, air ports, sea ports and effectively closed to business as the strike last”

He however called on Nigerians to come out en-mass to support the organised labour and civil society allied to effectively force the President Goodluck Jonthan cabal to revert the pump price of petrol back to N65 per liter.

It would be recalled that Labour on Friday January 6, 2012 denounced receiving any court injunction stooping the planned mass action from Monday January 9, 2012.

In a statement signed by the Secretary of the NLC, comrade Owei Lakemfa and the TUC, Comrade John Kolawole said “We want to reiterate “We have not been served any so-called court ruling stopping the mass action.

“As far as we are concerned, it remains a big rumour and a huge farce. It does not exist. We were in the office till very late on Friday and nothing was served. However, we remain law abiding citizens and will take the necessary planned action from Monday’, it said.

“We do not see any provision in the NIC act that empowers it to stop Nigerians from resisting evil governmental policies and practices. We do not therefore see how the purported ruling can stop the Nigerian people from this chosen popular course. We have gone through this charade before; Obasanjo travelled this road, Yar ardua joined him in this same path and it seems that the present government has not learnt the lessons of the past. Just as the past attempts failed, this attempt will also fail.” It added.

Labour therefore, “urged every Nigerian worker and all Nigerian people to continue mobilising towards the planned mother of all strikes kicking off next week Monday. We urge you to reach out to your neighborhoods, streets, communities etc. Engage all persons/groups and form Local Joint Action Committees and remain undeterred no matter the mischievous antics of the government”, it further said.